NEW YORK (AP) — There was a time when presidential candidates kept quiet about their own ambitions, crisscrossed the country in the name of supporting other candidates, and deflected when pressed with obvious agendas.
for some people it’s not Democratic Party considers candidacy in 2028. With no clear party leadership and Democratic voters eager for a fight, some potential candidates are cutting back on pretense and becoming more transparent about their intentions in an effort to garner maximum attention at a time when authenticity is needed.
“Of course I’m thinking about it. I haven’t ruled it out,” New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker recently said on Fox News. Travel to New Hampshire for early votingHowever, he said that he is focusing on 2026, when he will be re-elected.
When pressed, California Governor Gavin Newsom told CBS: “If you don’t, you’re lying. You’re just lying, and you can’t do that.” Will he consider running? After next year’s midterm elections.
To be sure, many Democrats remain cautious.
The Associated Press requested interviews to discuss the changing dynamics, but none of the dozen or so potential 2028 candidates were immediately available. Some Democratic lawmakers have deflected questions and said their interests lie elsewhere, even though they are campaigning for other states in early voting states.
On the Republican side, a completely different dynamic is brewing behind the scenes. Top candidates are keeping a low profile as presidential expectations rise donald trump He will likely play the role of kingmaker in selecting potential successors.
Presidential campaign strategists say Democrats’ less guarded approach makes sense given the wide open 2028 race and the huge number of candidates vying for attention. Others who have said they are considering running include Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who also served as White House chief of staff, and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green.
“The old rules don’t apply to anything anymore,” said Jess O’Connell, a Democratic strategist who advised Pete Buttigieg’s 2020 presidential campaign. She said the change is good for the party.
“We have to go out there every day and fight and share our vision,” she said. “And I think we need more runway to talk to people at this time and communicate about meeting their needs in the future.”
New dynamics are at work
Alex Conant, a veteran of the presidential campaigns of Republican Marco Rubio, a former Florida senator who is now Trump’s secretary of state, and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said the momentum of the Democratic primary without a clear front-runner has changed the calculus for candidates.
“I think the Democratic primary will be the longest primary of our lifetimes. It’s hard to remember a race as wide open as this one. And the Democratic base is desperate for someone to take on Trump and take back the White House.” “The more crowded it gets, the more important it is to leave early.”
She said candidates are even more motivated to say the quiet parts out loud because they “immediately become more relevant when they know they could be the next president.”
Voters these days are disgusted with statements made by politicians that were once commonplace.
“One of the lessons from President Trump is that people want credibility,” Conant said. “The rhetoric that politicians have used for decades to avoid answering questions is now only frustrating voters, as voters reject candidates who look like politicians.”
Some things are elusive
Not everyone takes this approach.
During a recent interview with journalist Carla Swisher, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker maintained a low-key demeanor on stage, repeatedly dodging her questions about his anticipated schedule.
When he tried to talk about the strength of the Democratic caucus, she responded, “So-and-so.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been similarly cautious, declining to acknowledge his White House ambitions or even commit to running for governor again, even as the shadow of 2028 follows him everywhere he goes. However, when he appeared on the podcast “The Breakfast Club” last month, he reflected on the arson incident and sounded like someone who is eager to stay in the arena.
“I love public service,” he said. “I can’t walk away now with everything at stake. … Now is not the time to quit.”
His perceived national ambitions have become a frequent ammunition for potential Republican rivals, governors and state treasurers. stacey garrity.
“We need someone who’s more interested in Pennsylvania than Pennsylvania Avenue,” Garrity said recently on a Philadelphia conservative radio show.
Candidates are at risk
That’s one of the risks for candidates, said Mike Duhaime, a longtime Republican strategist who advised the presidential campaigns of Chris Christie, John McCain, Rudy Giuliani and George W. Bush.
He noted that in 2013, Mr. Christie’s opponents in the New Jersey gubernatorial race frequently tried to use it as an issue in the nationally high-profile campaign against Mr. Christie.
Duhaime said candidates also need to strike a balance and avoid distracting from the midterm elections by taking money and attention away from the candidates they need.
“I think it makes sense for people not to be too shy because they kind of understand that, but you still have to be careful about putting yourself in front of the country because it can backfire,” he said. They “have to be aware that we’re still a little bit like team players.”
Duhaime also said candidates may not be as committed and could be tempted by party leaders in early voting states who want to attract rising stars to their events.
“It’s very interesting and stimulating for candidates and potential candidates to be asked,” he said, and some decided to “try it out, join the national circus.”
O’Connell, the Democratic Party strategist, pointed out that in addition to the possibility of legal considerations, many potential candidates have day jobs, which they will need to juggle. Picking a fight with Trump will certainly garner attention, but retaliation by the Republican president could have an impact on voters, so candidates need to choose their timing wisely.
“You have to fulfill your obligations to the state you’re in,” she said. “I think there are more practical considerations than just playing a game.”
“I think there are going to be people who are going to suffer from this problem,” she added.
She also urged candidates to adopt what she called the “Beyoncé Taylor Swift strategy,” citing boosting the economies of the cities where the pop star performs on tour.
“My advice to anyone who wants to be president in 2028 is to roll up your sleeves and work together,” she said.
